And the tradition will continue

You know how you have those few friends in your life who just make you always feel good? I am lucky I have more than a few. I now have another new friend who has come into my life through blogging (she knows who she is). This person sent me a parcel of goodies. In that parcel was an Advent Calender. This year I was not organised enough to order our Advent Calender through UNICEF (But I did do my card shopping at Oxfam Unwrapped). I was only grumbling at myself during the day for not ordering our Advent Calender (reflecting now I could have gone to the local Catholic Bookshop) and this parcel arrives with one already in it. So the boys can continue with the excitement each morning of opening the window which counts down to Christmas. This year we are also trying a new calender which I finished making last December - will show that in a day or two.

This thoughtful person wrote me a note which says "To A Special Person". How good do you think that made me feel? I have that note on my board in the craft room now.

My Uncles Quilt

I have finished my Uncles quilt. I am giving it to him for Christmas. There is a plain block on the front with the words "Dear Uncle Tom To keep you warm and cosy Love Sarah". This picture is terrible but we are having rain from today till Sunday so I had to take this with the first light.

November check yourself reminder

This is to remind you to check your breast. You only need to it it properly once a month

I know there is conflicting info out there on how to check them - the main thing is that you do.

These helpful hints were from The Inspiration Room

Check for any unusual thickening of the breast tissue. Raise your arm above your head, with your fingers flat apply pressure in small circles.
Check that one breast hasn’t become larger or lower than the other.
Check for any changes to your nipples or any skin irritations around them.
Check for any changes to skin texture. Look for puckering or dimpling of the skin.
Look for any unusual lumps or lumpy areas in your breasts or armpits.
If you find anything unusual or feel pain when checking out your breasts, talk to your doctor immediately.

Remember there are no rules. There is no wrong ways to check out your breasts. You just have to check them regularly enough to know if there are any changes.

The goal is to be familiar with what your breasts look and feel like normally so you’ll know if there are any changes.

Bloggers and Friends Stitching Day at Ross

On Saturday we all meet up in Ross. A beautiful 19th Centery Colonical Town in the middle of Tasmania.





Jo did a fabulous job organising the day and making the table decor - Thank you Jo !



Even Ric Rac's Freinds joined us!



We all also managed to swap our baubles... Dont they look great all together!

You can see more photos of the day at Cathy's, Christine, Roseanne, Sarah, Leanne,

Thank you to the ladies at The Quilted Crow and Helen from Hugs and Kisses for their generous donations.

My first sponge...

Victoria at 13MIMOSA did a post about making an Australian Sponge. I am an ashamed Australian - I have never made sponge. Really because so many people have such a phobia for them I decided to stay clear than risk failure.

Victoria kindly offered her recipe for me to do and I made it today. It is kinda a bita thina... Did you see how thick hers is!!!!! I followed your STRICT instructions Victoria. I beated the eggs and sugar till thick and creamy. Did I over fold the flour in? Any less there would have been flour clumps. The middle also sunk a little explaining the cleverly posed photo...

Anyone - any ideas? We are having it for desert shortly. It is filled with cream and jam. Hubby accidentally bought thickened cream than normal cream for me to whip but it will still taste the same...

On my desk

Still rather quiet here. No humming of my sewing machine but certainly a production of cutting fabric. I decided to use my time wisely stitching and cutting fabric while the machine is STILL with the machine man. Won't rush him - it has been nice to get some of these steps done.

Thank you to Kootoyoo who has began this "On my desk..." Wednesday post...

Just had to make...

I saw something very similar at Lynette Anderson Design Blog a while back. I just had to make one and here it finally is. I just slowly sewed on all the buttons during the boys swimming lessons. Very unlike me to make something that does not have purpose but I think it is cute - not sure what to do with it now!

This is... my favourite thing from nature

I know I am a day late - but hey this weeks host Cloth and Fodder is a day late too - wonder if Three Buttons, will notice?

My favourite thing from nature is Rain.

I just love the feeling before it rains. I love hearing it patter on our roof. I like to have the excuse to stay inside and keep warm. I like how it makes the plants sing. I love how it helps my vegies and plants (ex weeds) grow with out having to use our prescious water resources and I love how it makes the ground, flowers and grass smell that fresh smell after.

Just wished it rain more.

Kathryn's Quiche

I made Kathryn's Quiche today. Just delicious and easy. Visit her blog and make it yourself. Never knew about pastry mix till I tried this recipe.

I FINISHED them

WOO HOO

They are all ready for the Tassie Stitchers get together at Ross later this month. PHEW I was starting to wonder if I get them finished in time. Jo, Cathy, Meridith, Helen and Leanne I sure hope you guys are happy with them. I so look forward to all the kits being together.

They are really easy

I have been procrastinating making these. Jo kindly offered a pattern and since then I have seen them here and here (cannot find the link now : ( so deided I can only try and I am really pleased with the outcome. I have made one for my niece for Christmas and one for the school fair demos (on that subject I have finished making all the demos - yippie!)

On my desk

It looks a bit sad doesn't it? Well JUST as I was finishing quilting the last block the sewing machine decided it was not going to sew unless the feed dogs were down! Which would then effect the quilting process. SO I have sent it to the fix it man. I am SO HOPING it is still under warranty. When I get it back I will sew in the binding and wa la my Uncles quilt will be ready for Christmas.

I am getting withdrawals! Anyone else suffer this?

Absolutely Scrummy

On Saturday I showed off my x2 double yolks - well Marita from Moderately Me linked me a recipe for a creamy lemon slice which I did today and it was scrummy. Go over and make it.

If any of you know a GOOD slice recipe you are happy to share PLEASE do (like chocolate?)!

One tomato, two tomato, three tomato....

These were made using acrylic felt. I much prefer the one I made previously with woolen felt - much nice to work with and a much better finish... These will be for the school fair - some demos they have asked me to make to give the craft stall a lift...

This is my favourite quote

Thank you to Strawberry Kisses who came up with this weeks "This is..." theme hosted by Three Buttons.

This quote is used often around here....

"I have reached 100th Post"

Woo hoo

(edit:a few people have asked if this is for real and YES I have reached my 100th post. Well according to my dash board I am at 102 but my post list this is 98 so I thought I combine it with the This is... as I was to pathetic to think of a better quote!)

Oh and the winner who named Mrs ? which I recalled finished on the 9th was the 6th (oops brain fuzz)... is (drum roll)

Miss Daphne - Sandi from Embroideroo is the winner! WOO HOO. Sandi can you email me privately with your address so can send you the goodies.

I am having a lucky day

I have never cracked open a double yolk egg.

I recall when I was young my mum did and the excitement that came from that moment has stuck with me. Yesterday I baked chocolate ramekins for an easy desert for my sisters and I cracked open three eggs and TWO were double yolk! I suddenly cheered up and felt like this is a lucky day. Since doing this I opened more eggs from the same batch to make omelets and there was another double yolk!

P.S. If any one knows of a recipe for 3 - 5 egg yolks I would appreciate it - I hate to waste them!

Poor Angel

A poor Angel Swappie goodies were stolen from her letter box. I just could not let her miss out so I have mailed this to her today.

On my desk

Bits and pieces of little simple projects I hope to do with in the next week. They are intended as demo ideas for the schools fair craft stall.

Jo is popping around tonght with Thai (yum) and we are going to get the three layers of my uncles quilt together and of course my trusty Christmas very slow to make baubles. Swap is due end of this month so I am intending over the next two weeks to do them in my lunch hour as I have been getting to bed REAL early lately.

Thank you to Kootoyoo who has started this "On my desk..." Wednesday post or I may just let another week slip by....

This is... a favourite recipe I would like to share

Thank you to the Host of "This is..." - Three Buttons who has chosen this weeks theme...

As you have seen in my past posts I have shown recipe's which have been quick, easy and delicious. These three points have to be filled to be approved by me. Or if it is the weekend and we are all feeling like something that takes more time but the effort is worth the taste/comfort then this gets the tick as well.

This one is Hazelnut Brown Butter Cake. Absolutely SCRUMMY

I cannot take credit for it ... I found it on Smitten Kitchen. An amazing food blog. GO on make one for yourself - you will not regret discovering this luscious cake!

Welcome back...

Would you be so kind to welcome a blogger back?

Marita from Moderatley Me has returned. Jo and I meet her when we saw her stall at a local Christmas Fair. We knew from her lovely range of goodies she had to be a blogger and she was.